diff --git a/libusb/src/windows.c b/libusb/src/windows.c
index 23ab70d..edb06ae 100644
--- a/libusb/src/windows.c
+++ b/libusb/src/windows.c
@@ -548,7 +548,11 @@ int usb_free_async(void **context)
         return -EINVAL;
     }
 
-    CloseHandle((*c)->ol.hEvent);
+    if (!CloseHandle((*c)->ol.hEvent))
+    {
+      USBERR("close event failed: win error: %s", usb_win_error_to_string());
+      return -usb_win_error_to_errno();
+    }
 
     free(*c);
     *c = NULL;